The guide’s starting point is clear: the climate crisis is not just a matter to be solved with technical expertise; it is also a problem requiring democratic participation. It emphasizes that decisions determining the future of cities cannot be made behind closed doors between experts and decision-makers; inclusive processes reflecting the knowledge, experience, and priorities of the local population are needed. In this context, citizens’ assemblies are considered to go beyond being merely “consultative participation activities” and instead become formal decision-making support mechanisms that clarify options, strengthen legitimacy, and pave the way for decision-makers.
The Implementation Guide also draws on the international experience of the citizens’ assembly approach. Developing since the 1970s with examples in countries like Germany, the USA, and Denmark, where “small groups of citizens elected by lottery” addressed controversial public issues, this approach became widespread after the 2000s with constitutional and electoral reform processes in Ireland, Canada, and Belgium. In the last 15 years, it has resurfaced at the national and local levels to address the climate crisis: citizens’ assemblies in Ireland paved the way for constitutional amendments; The 2019–2020 Climate Citizens Convention in France developed comprehensive climate proposals; in the United Kingdom, the UK Climate Assembly and subsequent local climate assemblies offered policy options in line with the 2050 net-zero target. Today, in many European cities, local climate assemblies play a similar role in the preparation and updating of municipal climate action plans.
This guide draws on these international experiences while focusing on the climate experience of the Izmir Citizens Assembly, the first of its kind in Turkey. This citizen assembly, the first of its kind in Turkey, was established under the leadership of Yuva Association, in partnership with Izmir Metropolitan Municipality (İzBB) and the Law, Nature and Society Foundation (HUDOTO). The main objective of the Izmir Citizens Assembly for Climate is to strengthen resilience to the effects of climate change in Izmir, to promote low-carbon and climate-resilient development tailored to local needs, and to enable local people to contribute to decision-making processes by actively participating in shaping climate policies.
The Izmir Citizens’ Assembly for Climate Implementation Guide aims to pave the way for more inclusive, transparent, and effective climate policies at the local level by providing a practical “how-to” answer for local governments and civil society. The guide offers a common reference for all institutions and stakeholders who want to strengthen citizen participation in processes ranging from cities’ climate action plans to adaptation measures.
You can access the implementation guide HERE.
